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Monday, October 11, 2010

From Chicago, the city that smells lemony-fresh, it's your host, the woman who has her own wing at the local emergency room, Dawn Meehan

Ok, so I know it's not technically Sunday, but it was a holiday weekend so I'm excused. Hey, it's my blog so I make the rules. Besides, when I ordinarily would've been writing my blog post last night, I was in the ER with my son. Jackson had a couple friends sleep over last night. Or, that was the plan anyway. Since Chicago is having this crazy tropical heatwave and the kids didn't have school today, I let the boys stay up and play outside in the backyard last night. At about 10:00 when I was going to call the kids to come in and get ready for bed, Jackson came running inside, crying, and leaving a trail of blood on the floors I'd just washed. Don't worry, I only cried about my floors for a minute before trying to ascertain where the blood was originating from. Although I've shed a few more tears today because of all the leaves the kids have dragged inside. Really, is it necessary to go in and out twelve-hundred times a day? Grrr. Sorry, I digress.

So, I saw that Jackson's nose was gushing blood. I had him lean over the sink so the blood wouldn't go down his throat and make him puke. I can handle blood, but puke...notsomuch. Then he made some snotting sound and managed to kinda blow blood all over the sink, wall, and pretty much the entire bathroom. Pretty! I have a rust-colored faux finish now.

"What did you do?" I asked, although I was pretty sure he'd done some stupid thing that only a boy would think of doing.

Turns out I was right. He stomped on a corner of his skateboard while leaning over it. It flipped up and smacked him in the face.

I looked at his nose which was puffing up like a balloon. It was slightly crooked and he complained that he couldn't breathe out of the right side.

I'm not one to freak out over blood. Still, I thought there was a good chance his nose was broken and I wasn't sure what they did for a broken nose. I thought maybe they'd have to put a little nose cast on his schnoz. Or they might need to realign it or something. I was kinda hoping they would have to take a pair of pliers and yank it back into position just so that maybe he'd learn a lesson. Oh who am I kidding? He still wouldn't think twice about trying to jump the skateboard over a garbage can, or ride it down the side of a ladder, or ride it while being pulled behind a friend on a bike until achieving maximum velocity and jumping a 12 foot ramp. This is what boys do. So, I took him to the hospital to get it checked out.

After a quick reunion with hospital personnel we hadn't seen in a whole month, we were led back to our room. The xray confirmed that he had indeed fractured his nasal bone. I guess they don't really do anything for a broken nose until the swelling has gone down, however. I need to follow up with the ENT in a week who will then determine if his nose is healing fine or if it needs to be manipulated back into place. In the meantime, no football. Oh darn!

Guess what he did when he first woke up this morning. He jumped on his skateboard until I yelled at him to knock it off. Then he started playing football with his buddy until I yelled at him to knock it off. Then he rigged some Tarzan-rope-vine-thingy in the tree and jumped off the swingset and caught this rope in midair until I yelled at him to knock it off. Sensing a theme here?

Okay, moving right along to viewer mail. Here are the answers to this week's questions.

speaking of "rodents of unusual size", did you ever catch that mouse you heard scurrying around the house?No, but I haven't heard anything since, thank God! I'm scared of what will happen when the weather turns cold again. I was thinking about getting a cat, but then I recalled all those Tom and Jerry cartoons and decided that probably wasn't the best course of action.

But out of curiosity, what is a blog of ink? LOLIt's like a blob of ink, but it's written by a blogger at 3:00 in the morning.

The fear of vomiting is called Emetophobia and there is an International Society of Emetophobia.I don't have a fear of vomiting. I have a hatred of vomiting. Or seeing it. Or hearing it. Or smelling it. Or thinking about it. In fact, if I type one more word about it, I'll probably throw up.

Tell us Dawn, how does one get marker off the TV?You use a whole buttload of wipes. (Hmmm, spellcheck doesn't like the word "buttload".)

This worked on the screen, thankfully. But I still have a lovely reminder of Brooklyn's artistic talents on the frame...

You've gotta check out my new purse! I found this site, Cover to Cover Purses, after googling something like unique purses. I fell in love with her very cute, totally unique purses. I especially loved this one made from a vintage, special edition record album put out by Mr. Boston. It features big band music and a cover blanketed with cocktails! Cocktails! All over it! I know! It's such a throwback from days gone by. I think of those awesome black and white movies where the men wore suits and the ladies, cocktail dresses with pearls. And they smoked their cigarettes in holders while sipping cocktails poured from crystal decanters that sat on a cart in the room.

I knew, from the pictures on her site, that I'd love the way the purse looked, but I was really impressed with how sturdy it is! I mean, I don't think it'll ever be my all-purpose, schlep everything around town, everyday purse, but I know it'll hold up and last a long time when I use it. It's made WELL! (Just don't leave it in the car on a hot day! It is a vinyl record after all!)

Dolores from Cover to Cover Purses not only makes awesome purses from records, but she makes them from classic books as well! How cool is that? This is the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for woman in your life! I cannot tell you how many comments and compliments I've gotten on this purse in the past week! I love it! In fact, I love it so much, I approached Dolores from Cover to Cover Purses and told her I have a blog and would love to do a giveaway of one of her purses if she was willing. I'm pretty sure she thought I was a kook at first, but then I sent her a couple links to my blog and she happily agreed. Sooo, I have a cool Fleetwood Mac purse to give away to one lucky random reader! Leave me a comment here and tell me what your favorite album is. Or tell me what your very first album was. (Mine was Michael Jackson's Thriller. Or maybe it was the soundtrack from Grease. Hmmm, I'm not sure. It was one of those.) Or tell me what your favorite classic novel is.

I'll choose a random winner from all the eligible entries on Friday, Oct. 15. Contest open to US residents age 18 and older. Good luck!

I was not paid or given free merchandise for this review. I just really love these purses!

My first album was Disco Duck featuring Donald Duck and the rest of the Disney gang. I think I was about 5 or 6 years old at the time. I loved that album and played it on my Holly Hobby record player every day for months.

My first very own album was a box set for the movie E.T. that came with a cool book and record. But the first album I fell in love with was my dad's and it was Innocent Man by Billy Joel. I played it over and over and over again!

I'm so old that I don't remember what my first album was.lol. But I do love the purses and Fleetwood Mac. Thanks for the chance to win it and since my birthday is coming up, hint, hint.lol. Love your blog. Makes me glad I had girls.

My first album (if you're being hard-and-fast about the vinyl criteria) had to be one of those Disney book-and-record sets; probably "The Three Little Pigs." The first music album was The Stray Cats, followed closely by Thriller, but both were on cassettes (modern technology at the time, you know!). I dig that purse, and as a shoe/purse addict, it would fit right in with my collection!

My first album was Micheal Jackson's thriller on record!!My favorite album of all time??The Beatles greatest hits is my favorite! I would love to have this purse.I LOVE Fleetwood!!!!Thanks for this rare and awesome chance.jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

My first album was Shaun Cassidy featuring that classic hit "Da Doo Run Run" I was 9 or 10 years old. I think I played that ad nauseum. I really don't know how my parents endured it. Ah yes, good times, good times!

My first and most favorite album ever was Michael Jackson's Thriller. I think I was about 10 years old then. I listened every day to that album. My worst memory ever was one time my brother and his friends were over and they started scratching my record with the needle. It was horrible to me because I LOVED that album!

Oh and you now what works wonders on marker on surfaces. Spray suntan lotion, if you have any around. It wipes marker off and smells great!! Is amazing how well it works, you have to try and see for yourself :)

My first record album was Kenny Rogers and The First Edition- his band before he became just Kenny Rogers. I bought it with my allowance when I was 12 or so, my birthday present had been a little record player so I needed a record to go on my record player, not even a stereo, just a record player with a very small speaker built in. I went down to our local Sav-on drug store where they also sold records in the store and I think it cost about $2.50.

i would love to win this for my mom she loves fleetwood mac! I don't know what my first album was but I know my first rap "tape" was given to me at my third birth day party. IT was OPP by Naughty by nature...I didn't even know of the group or song until I got the tape...and now I know what it means I can't believe I got that that when I was 9 by another 9yr old!

I so feel your pain of the ER and boys. 2 weeks ago my 10 year broken his tibia and fibula playing soccer. thankly no surgery but a huge cast with a smaller one in 10 days but whose counting? last night my 18 year was playing soccer and got tripped from behind and fell and broke his collar bone. I know I see the pattern soccer is harmful to my children. pretty soon I'll own a room at the ER. as for albums I'm pretty sure my first was a cool and gang. I'm not that old,teenager of the 80s not 70s, but it was one of the prizes you get from selling crap for school.thanks!

My first album was Strawberry Shortcake, I think... we used to LOVE our record player! My mom played her albums for us and we had that thing going ALL THE TIME. These purses are awesome! My dad hearts Fleetwood Mac... if I win I'll make him super jealous. I mean, not about winning a purse, but winning something with Fleetwood Mac on it. My dad doesn't use purses. ;)

My first album was either The Monkees or The Best of Herman's Hermits Vol. 2, I don't remember which. I still have both of them, and an old record player I can play them on. When my kids were little, we'd play all my old records every summer. The purses really do look cool!

Okay...I don't know EXACTLY which one was my 1st one. I suck, I know. I had...Micheal Jackson~Thriller, Kenny Rogers~don't remember the name, it was the one with Lucille and Ruby, and are you freakin ready for it?! Nancy Sinatra~the one with "These boots are made for walking". Ya..I am the shit when it comes to taste in music. I ROCK!;)

My classic novel would definitely have to be "Little Women". I tried to read "Wuthering Heights" in high school and my mommy, yeah that's right my mommy, had to write me a note about how I just couldn't get into it...Ha!! I was completely truthful tho, THAT was hard..I am still scared to even try to read it again. I think if I couldn't read it now, my self-esteem would just plummet to an all time low..

When I was in 6th grade, you could send in candy bar wrappers and get a free 45. I think the first one I got was The Rolling Stones- "Start me up" My "freebie" collection was well over 50 singles.( I still have them) No I did not eat all the candy, I would hang out at concession stands and collect the wrappers. First album I ever bought was REO Speedwagon! The original Big Hair band!

After I got hit by a car when I was 9 (and a half!) they told me I had to take it easy for 11 days. My parents told my friends who told my classmates and no one would let me do anything but sit or stand while everyone played and had fun. I was watched by a hawk by everyone. I couldn't help being mad at everyone who stopped me from being a kid for 11 whole days but quickly got over it the minute I was allowed to go stark raving bonkers again.

Thankfully being hit in the head by a car didn't affect me one bit. Nor did the car that was rushing me to the hospital getting T-boned by a lady pulling out of her driveway affect me either... nope, I'm fine. Perfectly sane. 100% normal. Yessir.

My sister is 13 years older than me. She graduated in 1977. So my love of 70s music stems from her.The first album she ever bought me was a "Three Dog Might"...Jeremiah was a Bulldog.I was a wee squirt dancing around our house singing this song nonstop. Bet she regretted buying that album.

I think my first record was Brittany Spears when I was 6 or 7, but that's as far back as I can remember! (And yes, I'm 18. On Friday, the 15th, I'll be 19!) I would love to get one of these for my mom!! Thanks!-Amanda Ro.

My first album is a toss up between Michael Jackson'e Thriller or Two of a kind (?) by Olivia Newton John and John Travolta. i still own both (much worse for the wear) packed not very carefully in the garage :)

Wow whata fun idea for a purse. Your Jackson story is so funny. When you posted on FB I was thinking he had jumped something and fallen, but to have the board hit him while just standing there, well that is FUNNY! I love all Beatles albums, and every little gilr classic novel I love. I have the entire Anne of Green Gables set. LOVE them.

I think my first record was Rubberband Man. But it wasn't the whole album, just the single. You know, the little baby record that you had to put a plastic disc in the middle to put it on the turntable. Hmmm. I wonder who the artist was? I bet a quick google would answer that! OK, it was "The Spinners." Don't remember them!! But I can still hear the song!

My favorite albums of all time is Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. I was so impressed that there was finally an album where the artists whined all the way to the bank I had to give her my money as quick as I could!

(Note: if I win, the purse is not for me but my sister. Just clearing that up thankyouverymuch)

My parents had a record player and I used to listen to it for hours! I loved it. Of course I wasn't supposed to touch it...but then, it was in the basement, so they didn't know I listened to it without them. :)

Ink comes off with alcohol. No, silly...don't drink so much you forget about the ink...use something like rubbing alcohol, hairspray or bug repellant to get the rest off. My son wrote on my computer monitor with a sharpie...bug spray took it right off, thanks Google! :o)

My favorite album is one by Buckingham/Nicks. It was Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks' band before they joined Fleetwood Mac. I want this purse so badly I can taste it!!! I really really really hope I win...

I'm old! I can't remember what my first album was. However, I'm the expert on childhood accidents! My daughter broke her nose in cheerleading the week before her confirmation in 9th grade. She had the surgery to straighten it out about two days before the event and had to wear a flesh colored splint on her nose...which kept falling off because she was so nervous and upset about the WHOLE THING (the confirmation and the splint.)Your bud Spuds has broken his nose many times. Get his advice before you go any further!

I love that purse. Much like you my first album by choice was Thriller. Not by choice teh records were 45's that had books to follow along on like the Elves and the Shoemaker and Jack and the beanstalk.

I know i had book and record sets. Does that count? When i got old enough to buy music It was (age peeking through) 8 track tapes and then the new greatest thing ever cassettes! I like fleetwood mac, funny how they got old and i didn't/

L0sermom: okokok my first album was probably something from the Mickey Mouse Club or a comedy album like Bill Cosby's Chicken Heart. My favorite classic novel is JRR Tolkein's the Hobbit (followed by the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and lastly, even though you didn't ask - boxers.

I'd love to win the purse so I can give it to my sister. And by sister I don't mean I hope it doesn't clash with my eyes.

(pause)

I have a sister. I do.

(pause)

Well, she married my brother so she's really my half-- *sigh* I hope it goes with brown eyes...

OMGosh, I'm too old to remember my first album as well, but I'm sure it was a Beatle album! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fleetwood Mac, I did have all their records and albums as well, PLEASE pick me for this one! I'd truly LOVE IT!

My first album was Paul Simon's Greatest Hits, Etc. I was about 12 years old, and wanted a popular music album for Christmas. This is what my parents chose. At age 12, I was really hoping for the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack album, but alas, I was not specific with my request. Now, however, I appreciate the fact that my folks gave me a Paul Simon album over a Bee Gees album, but at the time it was a little disappointing!

My first album was Glen Campbell. Yes, I know. But it was the 60's and he had a weekly show that I never missed! I planned on marrying him when I grew up but Tanya Tucker ruined it all.... Did you try Magic Eraser on the TV? Or maybe nail polish remover dabbed very carefully with a qtip?

I grew up past the time of records, but I do remember the first time I made enough money babysitting to go buy my very first cassette tape. It was New Kids On The Block and every day after school a pack of us girls would gather up and make up dance routines. Oh what great memories.

Im so old I bought 45's so I dont have a clue what was the first album. But it could have been fleetwood mac, well at least I still have at least two Fleetwood Macs on vinyl. So I deserve this one LOL thanks

My first album was Shaun Cassidy. I was in love with that man even though I was only 10 yrs old or so. I even named my second child Sean, changing the spelling only so it wouldn't be obvious whom he was named after. LOL

Have you tried user aerosol hairspray on the tv? I use that to get sharpie off EVERYTHING even skin. My Mother-in-law discovered this when my then 2yr old daughter decided to "color" the baseboards and the hand railing with a black sharpie.. I use Big Sexy Hair and we call it our Big Sexy Cleaner.. probably ought not spray it on the screen... but try the metal part..

I don't remember what my first album was, a silly songs compilation or perhaps a country audio cassette... That Fleetwood Mac bag is awesome, the only thing that would make it better would be if it were the Roumors album :) their best work in my opinion ;)

My first record was a Disco Duck 45 My big sister hated it, but my twin sister and I sang it nearly non-stop. I'm very sure we made everyone in our house a little crazy. Love you're blog, love the purses. Hope Jax isn't too worse for the wear, but it sounds like he's fine.

gonna show my age here... but my first album WHICH I STILL HAVE BY THE WAY cause i take good care of my toys... oh because i am an only child... was/is gary puckett and the union gap :) and i still love that album... dreams of the everyday house wife... young girl... ect..oki shut up now and the purses are way too cool!

Purses are cute, not my style though. I can't remember my first album, but first concert was Fleetwood Mac. I can relate to Jackson's antics. I have 3 boys age 8,8 & 7. We have had multiple visits to ER.

Wow, what a great concept. I am probably too late for the contest, but I just had to chime in. My favorite Classic book is Pride and Prejudice. I have like 10 copies. My first album was probably Leslie Gore. I'd love to find another copy of that one. :)